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Specificationforming,part rifletterePatent'1Vo; 82,9l3, dated; ctohcrl, 1868.17

To .atlhwhom lit mayconoem: i i

'Be it known that-I, Gnonen D. Anania-of 3the city,connty, and State of New York, have invented. certain new and 'useful Improve-v ments in EellPots, and similar traps vfor catch- 'ingfahimals;. and that the'follow'ing is a full, clear, and exact description of the saine.

- Eel-pots, as generally constrncted, consist 'substantially of a basket', .the entrance 'of which is funnel-formed, and is 4formed of bas- 'ketivork, terminating in splints at the neck of the funnel. These splintsA afford a. very imperfect resistance tothe retrograde movements of the eels, and vmany of them escape,

.derstood, I will proceed to describe an eel-pot and but a small number are can'ght in each poto l The.b object of this invention ,is to prevent the retreat or escape of ,fthe eels, while afford-4 ing equal facilities to their, entrance and ,to the attraction of the animal by' thebait.

To this end the first part of my invention consists of an eel-pot funnel of sheetindiaruimen-perforated with holes -or otherwise, so: that the bait canv be scented bythe animal,

notwithstandingA the impervious nature of .the

material of which the fennel is made.

` A-ilh'e second part of the Ii-r'ivention consists of an eel-pot funnel with a contracted mouth,v which lcan be strained over the basketfwork,

' and which will then, by contracting, hold itself f in its .position without the necessity of tying or other fastening. v l

The third part of my invention consists of the combination'of the eel-pot funnel with needles pointing toward its neck, so as to pierce' the animal in case it attempts to retreat i .whenonce entered in the neck of the funnel.

The fourth part of my invention'consists of 4 an eel-pot funnel having thel two" characteris- 'tie peculiarities of perforation and. a contracted mouth. v

"Thelfth part of my invention consists of an eel-pot body constructed with an entrance whose inner orifice is enlarged, so as to presentv aan lostacle to the withdrawal of thefunn'el The last part of my invention consists of the combinationof the body of the eel-pot or 'Y trap with a funnel oi india-rubber.

y Aneel-potfnnnelconstructed ofindia-rnbber or' equivalent material is more exible, elastic,

and extensible at its neck or apex than one of basket-work, and therefore presents 'greater facilities for the entrance of the animal. .-Th'e" peribrations in itfperr'nit the scent oithe, baity to'zpass through', so that the animal when entering it is attracted stillfarther, and the needles prevent its Vretreat after its-head has passed theapex, by pricking its sides in case,

of such an attempt; while the contracted" month .of the funnel and enlarged inner orice of the entrance aiord great facility vfor the application and removal of the flexible funnel to the basket-work.

In order ,thatmy invention may be fully nn- Wilich contains all yof its parts, anda longitndinal section of which is represented in the accompanying drawing.

neck o r apex a, so as to aiord a passage of sniicient size for the entrance of the animals.

lts mouth e e is contracted,fand the inner part f of the entrance B is enlarged at its orifice hence the funnelmouth 'maybe stretched to pass over the enlarged oriiioe,.and then by contracting applies itself firmly thereto, so

that the funnel is held firmly in itsplace.` vThe funnel is perforated with holes s, to permit the scent 'ci' the bait to pass through, and needles I are quilted into it, with theirpoin'ts' r pointing toward the apex or neck a of 'theVVV funnel, so that they pierce the animal in case it attempts to withdraw. These needles should bel formed `oi" -some metal that does not rust, or should be protected, so that their sharpness will be maintained, as Atheir presence is important in preventing the escapeoi' the ani' mais after they have seized the bait.

The india-rubber which I have used in constructing my improvements is the ordinary vulcanized india-rubber, and the funnels may be made either ont of the sheet-rubber by cutting it into'shapeand cementing its edges.

together, or may beconstructed of the plastic compound o f rubber previous to vulcanizetion, and be then vulcanized. Pure/.gum or mpounea of -itmay b ma in 1am-king the amide, or the 'formels maybe formed ot' some 4 equivalent material for india-rubber.

What 'I claim asmy invention, and desire taseenre by. Letters Patent, ia-

,perforated, substantially as above setforth.

2. The eel-pot funnel formed of india-rubber,

n ,with a. contracted mouth, sbstau'tialy as bef v fore set forth.

3. The `eombintttion of the Aeel-pot funnel' 'withueees pointing :toward its neekfsub-I stentmlly as before set forth. i

4. The Aeetpot funnel haring the two ohat- I aeteristies` of perforation and e contracted mouth, substnntialy as before set forth.

5. The combination of the body of the trap with a. funnel of india-rubber, substantieiy'as before @et forth.l

In tes mony whereof I havelleretoset my hand this 10th day of Afugust, D. 1868.

v GEO. D. ALLEN.

. Witnesses:

U, B. MARY,

WM. J. SEXTON. 

